Chisholm Trail High School, Fort Worth, is Eagle Mountain-Saginaw Independent School District’s third high school, and was developed to serve the rapidly growing district. Situated adjacent to Tarrant County College District’s Northwest Campus, the district’s Sarah Hollenstein Career and Technology Center and Marine Creek Lake, the facility provides students many opportunities beyond what a traditional high school has to offer.
The school’s student-focused design incorporates many elements to encourage different levels of socialization among the student population. The open concept cafeteria includes a snack bar, bistro and outdoor dining area, ideal for maximizing student interaction.
Adjacent to the cafeteria is the library, which offers views of the lake and provides students a bookstore-type setting. The intimate courtyard, situated in the center of the campus, reflects a student-centric focus through its amphitheater. Wireless Internet throughout the school gives students and staff a chance to connect anywhere within the facility. A consolidated ninth-grade wing enables freshmen to transition successfully to high school.
Sustainable elements, including a geothermal mechanical system, irrigation for the entire site via the water in the nearby lake and use of a drip irrigation system that saturates the ground from underneath, will generate cost savings for the district.
VLK Architects (Fort Worth, Texas) is architect for the project.
